Oakwood Community Church

Stephen’s Christ-like Suffering

“And they stirred up the people… and they set up false witnesses…all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” Acts 6:12-13,15

Stephen’s Christ-like Suffering

“When they heard these things they were enraged… and stopped their ears and rushed at him. They cast him out of the city and stoned him.” Acts 7:54,57

Stephen’s Christ-like Suffering

“‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’” Acts 7:59-60

“86 years have I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” ~Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, c. 155 A.D.

“You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. Why are you waiting? Bring on whatever you want.” ~Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, c. 155 A.D.

“O Lord God Almighty… I give you thanks that you count me worthy to be numbered among your martyrs, sharing the cup of Christ and the resurrection to eternal life… May I be received this day as an acceptable sacrifice.”
~Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, c. 155 A.D.

“I praise you for all these things, I bless you and glorify you, along with the everlasting Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. To you, with him, through the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and forever. Amen.”
~Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, c. 155 A.D.

“They had such courage that none of them let out a sigh or a groan, proving when they suffered such torments they were absent from their bodies – or rather that the Lord then stood by them and talked with them.”
~The Martyrdom of Polycarp

Stephen’s Christ-like suffering shows what it looks like to live for Jesus and to die for Jesus.

“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.” Acts 6:7

Abraham - God Promised a Child

“The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham… promised to give [the land] to him and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.” Acts 7:2,5

Abraham - God Promised a Child

“And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac…and Isaac became the father of Jacob…” Acts 7:8

Jesus is the Child of Abraham who brought blessing to the world

“In your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 22:18

Moses - God Promised Salvation

“He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand.” Acts 7:25

Moses - God Promised Salvation

“I have surely seen the affliction of my people… and I have come down to deliver them.” Acts 7:34

Moses - God Promised Salvation

“This Moses… God sent as both ruler and redeemer… This man led them out, performing wonders and signs.”
Acts 7:35-36

Jesus is the Savior like Moses who can Deliver us from Sin and Death

“God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.” Acts 7:37

“He himself likewise partook of [flesh and blood], that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” Hebrews 2:15

David - God Promised a Kingdom

“David… found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.” Acts 7:46

Jesus is the King like David

“Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:56

Jesus is the King like David

“‘The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” Psalm 110:1

Jesus is the King like David who is making us into the temple of God

“It was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands.” Acts 7:47-48

Jesus is the King like David who is making us into the temple of God

“In whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21-22

“Almost all the events that led up to it reveal it to be another martyrdom in the divine pattern that we see in the Gospel. For he waited for his betrayal, just like the Lord did, so that we might follow him in looking out for the needs of others as well as ourselves. True love desires not only one’s own salvation, but the salvation of all our brothers.”
~The Martyrdom of Polycarp, c. 155 A.D.